Bird Flu question - need advice

[Cindyluwho]

As most of you know I have a small flock of about a dozen chickens in my backyard. They are prized show birds and I'm very careful and very cautious with them. You probably also know that we bring a child from Belarus (former Soviet State near Chernobyl) every year for the summer. Now that the bird flu is present in both Romania and Poland, I'm guessing that it has also reached Belarus. They don't allow non-government journalists to print much of anything or allow any news to flow out of their country and they hide most any negative news. My question is: Would it be ultra paranoid to have our Akulina change into a fresh set of clothes and shoes at the airport before we bring her back to our house? She always has a bath first thing when she gets here but I'm feeling like she shouldn't wear her clothes into the house. She is from a farming village near Chernobyl, lots of poultry running about. We always have all the children change their shoes first thing off the plane because of the radiation and farm animal issues but what about the clothes? Am I really being over cautious??
You can tell me if you think I'm being paranoid, I'm just really wondering about this

 

[mickeysgal]

No, I don't think this is unreasonable at all if this is what prevents the spread. This precaution is simple and really not a big deal. I, for one, would appreciate it if you could keep bird flu from entering this country!

 

[golfgal]

I would be more concerned about the radiation then the bird flu but I think it is a good idea to have her change her shoes first off. I know at the feed stores around here they don't allow farmers to go into the stores with dirty boots so it would basically be the same thing.

 

[momof2inPA]

I'm pretty sure the virus can't survive that long outside of an infected host. Maybe you could look for more information on the net, because there is no use in embarrassing the girl unnecessarily.